Candy and pop, as we all know, are not good for our teeth, especially children's teeth because they're not as aware of proper oral hygiene as adults should be. But, did you know that milk and juice sipping throughout the day can cause just as many problems with kid's teeth as good old candy and pop? Sometimes children sip all day long on fruit candies or juice. Also, some people need to beware of giving a child a bottle at bedtime. Even if a baby only has a few teeth in the mouth, the teeth are swimming in bacteria, and tooth decay can quickly start. The same rules go for adults: try to brush/floss after snacks, and do not eat and go to bed without brushing. There are some helpful dental care tips that you can follow, like: 1) Brush a baby's teeth with a tiny bit of flouride toothpaste as soon as the baby gets its first tooth (usually betweeen 3-9 months). This is to prevent tooth decay by removing bacteria from the teeth. 2) Start taking your kid to a health care provider knowledgeable and experienced in oral health at age 1. 3) Monitor snacks, especially those loaded in sugar. One child I know recently had 17+ cavities because he sipped on fruit juices all day long. The sugar feeds the bad bacteria in the mouth. 4) Take good care if your own teeth, regardless of whether or not you have kids. If you do have children, keep in mind that the bacteria in your mouth is contagious, and it's possible to spread chronic gum disesase, cavities, and tartar buildup to your children. Dental disease is a huge problem in society, and not only causes pain in adults and their children, but also causes people to miss a lot of school and work days.